Trump taps Callista Gingrich to be ambassador to the Vatican

Less than two weeks before a potentially tense and diplomatically delicate meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, President Trump has apparently settled on nominating Callista Gingrich, the wife of Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, as the United States ambassador to the Holy See, according to two people close to the president.

Axios reported on Monday, citing an unnamed source, that the President had misgivings about sending Gingrich overseas because he enjoys watching her husband, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, defending him on air.

Have a terrific weekend. Callista Gingrich graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in 1988, majoring in music, a passion that has remained with her throughout life.

Formerly Callista Bisek, she met Newt Gingrich, who later converted to Catholicism, in 1993 when she was a congressional aide. "The couple divorced in 1999". White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer in a May 15 news briefing wouldn't confirm Gingrich's nomination and said "nothing's official until it's announced", when asked about the matter.

"She's under consideration", Gingrich said.

Gingrich is a devout Catholic, telling the Christian Broadcasting Network in a 2011 interview that she has "always been a very spiritual person". Former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, was also considered for the role, the newspaper reported. "But she also played a role in breaking up his second marriage, according to Mr. Gingrich's ex-wife and former adviser, Marianne Gingrich". Her bio on the company's website says she "is the author of the New York Times best-selling children's series featuring Ellis the Elephant".